MARLBORO >> Rich Ward, head coach of Marlboro High’s successful football program, superintendent Ray Castellani and the Marlboro Central School District are being sued in federal court by a handful of former players alleging that the two-time Daily Freeman Coach of the Year physically and verbally abused players on his team.

In four seasons, Ward has led the Dukes to a 40-4 record and three consecutive Section 9 championships. Marlboro was reached the state semifinals each of the last two years, including falling to Schalmont 66-0 two weeks ago.

A 20-page complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Albany Monday by attorney Michael H. Sussman, representing Alfred and Kerstin Votta (on behalf of their sons — former players Justin and Ralph), as well as former players Dylan West, Dominic Santora and Jimmy Farrett, and Thomas Corcoran III.

The suit charges, among other things, that Ward “instructed his players to intentionally and improperly injure identified opposing players,” “intentionally perpetuated physical abuse against plaintiffs and other Marlboro High School football players ...” and “forced certain players he disliked ... to run laps for as many as three hours without a break.”

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To read the full text of the lawsuit, which contains foul language, online, go to bit.ly/1bgp0bD.

Ward is also accused of calling former Marlboro player T.J. Henderson, who is African-American, a racially insensitive remark.

“It’s just egregious. The complaint speaks for itself,” Sussman said.

The suit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages against Ward, Castellani and the Marlboro school district, as well as specifically asking for the termination of Ward as head coach.

Ward was the Freeman Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012.

Ward and Castellani did not return phone calls. Marlboro Athletic Director Jonnah O’Donnell, not named in the lawsuit, declined comment.

The suit claims that the plaintiffs’ “substantive due process rights of themselves or their minor children” were violated.

Part of the relief the suit is also asking for is for the school district to implement and enforce codes of conduct for coaches and others dealing with students.

The suit cited numerous incidents of abuse in view of parents and other players. It said that there were repeated attempts to have school administration address the situation, only to see the complaints either dismissed or not followed through.

Ward is accused of violating the coaching ethics according to Marlboro’s own Athletic Handbook and the portion of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association handbook regarding harassment by a coach.

The suit cites Ward’s conduct “created a hostile educational/playing environment for the plaintiffs and their teammates.”

Because of the alleged profanity-laced verbal and physical abuse directed at themselves and other players, both Vottas, West and Corcoran left the team, “losing friendships and the opportunity to obtain football scholarships to college.”

The brief revealed internal investigations conducted by Marlboro in 2011 and in March 2013. In each instance, the claims of harassment were ruled to be “unfounded.”

The suit charged Ward with “assault and battery” of the six student-athletes and Castellani, by failing to take currative actions against Ward despite having “knowledge of his conduct,” violated the plaintiffs’ Fourteenth Amendment rights.

The charge alleging Ward of making the racial remark referencing Henderson came after he supposedly sought out Henderson’s mother to “sign off on (her) son playing despite a concussion.”

The suit claims the remark was heard by players.

Henderson is not a plaintiff in the case.

The lawsuit claimed Ward “was far less concerned about the well being of student-athletes, whether on his team or another, than with winning at any cost” and that he “instructed his players to twist and break fingers and target the knees of opposing players.”

The suit cites incidents in 2011 and ’12, targeting Khariff LaBoy and Darryl Clark of New Paltz as well as Spackenkill’s Josh Riley.

It is claimed that before the 2011 game against New Paltz, Ward said he wanted the Huguenots to “go out in body bags.”

That same “body bag” reference was supposedly also used by Ward, according to the suit, when targeting Highland’s Matt Forte.

When contacted, Highland coach Carl Relyea said he had no first-half knowledge. He confirmed the name of his running back is Mike Forte, as opposed to Matt Forte, a running back for the Chicago Bears.